Tabuai had been training to compete in the 2012 New York marathon as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project run by legendary Australian runner Robert de Castella.

But when Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast of the United States the race was cancelled forcing Tabuai and fellow runners to head home early de Castella says.

"It was such a big disappointment last November," he says. "For these guys to get back home, deal with that disappointment and then knuckle down and maintain their training is a real credit to them."

Originally from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, the Port Lincoln-based Tabuai will join two other runners from the Indigenous Running Project in the Tokyo marathon on Sunday.

De Castella says the runner was given the opportunity because he has stayed committed to his training since missing out on running in New York.

"It'll be another incredible experience to go through the whole Japanese cultural experience," he says.

"I'm really looking forward to see how the guys go."

Tabuai overcame a leg injury last year to record a time of 40 minutes over 10 kilometres at the Gold Coast Running Festival in July before completing the 30-kilometre Alice Springs test event in 2 hours and 34 minutes.